I took up road cycling after joining the Dubai Roadsters in 2008. Living in Ireland again, I've started taking part in sportive events, such as the Wicklow 200 and the An Post Rebel Tour in Co. Cork, my home county.

My goals for 2011 were the Coast to Coast Group Charity Ride (25 February: 216km, 7 hours 11 mins); Cape Argus (13 March: 110km, 3 hours 9 mins); Pfaffenwinkelradrunfahrt (17 July: 170km, 6 hours 15 mins); Etape Hibernia (21 August: 134km, 4 hours 48 mins), and Sean Kelly Comeragh Challenge (28 August: 160km, 6 hours 21 mins).

With the sportive season now over, it's time to start training harder in the hills so that next year I don't get dropped on the climbs.

Words of encouragement at the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour 2010

One of the most remarkable features of the Cape Argus - the world's biggest timed cycle race around the Cape Town peninsula - is the huge number of spectators who line the route from very early on, shouting encouragment while they enjoy an early-morning braai and pump up the volume of their sound systems. "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba was just what I needed as I started the last climb up Suikerbossie.

Cycling Weekly featured a great article on riding the Cape Argus.

Crossing the finish line at the 2010 Etape Hibernia!

My local bike shop in the UAE was Wolfi's Bike Shop in Dubai, an endless reservoir of cycling knowledge and a treasure trove of bikes and biking gadgets. If you want sound advice, great kit, and top-class service, this is the place to go. Ask for Wolfi or Robert.

I am fortunate enough to have two bikes: a carbon Storck Fascenario IS and a titanium Enigma Excel, both with Campagnolo Super Record 11 groupsets, and various wheels: Xentis SQUAD 2.5 & Campagnolo Eurus clinchers, and Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate & Zipp Storck 69 tubulars. Both bikes are a joy to ride, each offering very different handling characteristics. I wear a new Catlike Whisper Plus helmet after my old one almost certainly saved my life in an accident in December 2009. It's my most important piece of biking kit.

Dubai Roadsters Coast to Coast Group Charity Ride 2011